Once again, the nation is caught in the needless crisis over the controversial hijab dressing code. The theatre, this time around, is Kwara State, where schools were shut down because of a dressing module that has no direct bearing on learning or social advancement.

It all had the signpost of how politics and religion could interface to foment trouble at the doorsteps of policy. There was heavy resistance following the state government’s ‘approval’ for female Muslim students attending grant-aided (Christian) missionary secondary schools to wear hijab (a head covering) to schools. The move was fiercely protested by the founders of such schools.

The schools involved are Cherubim and Seraphim College; St. Anthony’s College; ECWA School; St. Barnabas Secondary School; Bishop Smith Secondary School; CAC Secondary School, Baptist Secondary School; St. John’s School; St. Williams Secondary School, and St. James Secondary School, all in the state capital, Ilorin.

Matters got to a head last Thursday when five persons were reportedly injured in a clash between Muslims and Christians over the hijab matter, following the re-opening of affected schools.

According to the report, those injured were victims of verbal attacks and stone-throwing, with bloodied heads to show for their street show of shame. But, perhaps, nothing was more worrisome than their messages inscribed on placards of protest. The Muslims were shouting ‘’Laila, Ilalahu’ (there is no God but Allah), while the Christians were modelling ‘’O to ge (it’s enough), give us our schools back’’, ‘’No to hijab in Kwara’’, ‘’Kwara is not an Islamic state, Kwara is for all’’, ‘’We oppose hijab in our schools’’.

Of a truth, the state government took some precautionary steps to ensure that the policy did not boil over. It ordered a temporary shut down of the 10 mission schools until March 8. When the coast became clear, it suddenly dawned on the government that the re-opening of the schools would depend on the resolution of the “hijab crisis” in the colleges.

But unaware, the government had set a stage for the repeat of what happened in Osun State over the same tendency during the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as governor. There had also been such crises in Lagos and Oyo states in the past.

Of a truth, some Muslim organisations had urged the state government to prevail on authorities of the affected schools to allow their female students wear hijab. This triggered a meeting between the government and leaders of both religious persuasions -Christians and Muslims, and of course, the ensuing brouhaha.

Kwara State deputy governor, Kayode Alabi, who presided over the matter, urged the parties and stakeholders to bury their differences and allow peace to reign, a move that fell on deaf ears.

The immediate cause of the uprising was that despite the plea, some students of LGEA Baptist School were said to have been denied entry into the compound for putting on veil.

This triggered the pre-emptive move of the state government to order the closure of schools, on the orders of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who underscored the testy nature of the matter.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Mama Jibril, justified the order further, saying the schools would remain shut, pending the pronouncement of government’s position on the use of the Muslim head covering (hijab) in the schools.

“This is to avert any breakdown of law and order while the government concludes consultations with relevant stakeholders. Members of the public are urged to remain calm and peaceful. Official pronouncement of government’s position is likely this week.

“The government urges parents, officials and authorities at the affected schools to maintain peace and avoid making comments or doing anything that could cause further misunderstanding and heat up the polity,” Jubril said.

The events that followed were better imagined than experienced. People, stakeholders and whoever took their turns to rev up religious arguments and street action that had no bearing on learning, thereby feathering the nest of violence.

However, calm has prevailed and students, teachers and the authorities have been ordered to re-open schools for academics. This is a welcome development, but what lessons are to be learnt in this incident?

ThisNigeria recalls that similar incidents were settled in other states with tact. In fact, the Kwara State government should note that in the cited cases of Oyo, Osun and Lagos where similar crises had been handled before, “the state governments stood by the law, issuing relevant circulars and directing all principals of schools not to deny any female student the use of hijab in line with courts’ judgement.”

Let aggrieved persons over a perceived wrong go to court to enforce their rights. Resort to self-help is a veritable recipe for anarchy. In a fragile union such as ours, the consequences of allowing issues as this to fester are unimaginable.

However, we strongly hold the view that the issue, while it boiled, was unhealthy for the children’s education, unwelcome, illogical, and a needless distraction.

Self-serving politicians must desist from politicising education, as they have done to other sectors including security.

Education, especially of our youthful population, is the last hope of a beleaguered nation. We can’t afford to toy with it on the altar of religious extremism of adherents or champions of any faith.

We make bold to say that the issue of learning is in the brain, not in uniforms.

Let the hijab crisis end now. Decent uniforms, not any religious garments, is the way to go in order not to exacerbate tension or violent altercations.

Hijab controversy: Kwara Govt orders immediate reopening of 10 schools

As a matter of fact, all religious garments should be abolished forthwith in all secular schools in the country.

If anyone chooses to enrol his/her ward in a religious school, he/she would then be bound by the regulations including dress code, of that institution.

Finally, we note quite sadly, that while in other climes, their concern is on technological advancement, inventions and other scientific exploits, we have been dissipating valuable time on school uniforms, whether to wear hijab or cassock to school. It is time to stop this nonsense!